In this paper, a summary of the tectonic history about the Mirdita ophiolitic Nappe, Northern Albania, is proposed by geological and structural data. The Mirdita ophiolitic Nappe includes a sub-ophiolite mélange, the Rubik Complex, overlain by two ophiolite units, referred as Western and Eastern ones. Its history started in the Early Triassic with a rifting stage followed by Middle to Upper Triassic oceanic opening between Adria and Eurasia continental margins. Subsequently, in the Early Jurassic time, the oceanic basin was affected by convergence with development of a subduction zone. The existence of this subduction zone is provided by the occurrence of the SSZ-related magmatic sequences found in both the Western and Eastern Units of Mirdita ophiolitic Nappe. During the Middle Jurassic the continuous convergence resulted in the obduction of the oceanic lithosphere. by two different stages, respectively the intraoceanic and marginal stages. The intraoceanic stage is characterized by the westward thrusting of young and still hot section of oceanic lithosphere leading to development of a metamorphic sole. In the Late Jurassic, the marginal stage developed by the emplacement of the ophiolitic nappe onto the continental margin. During this second stage, the emplacement of the ophiolites resulted in the development of the Rubik Complex. In the Early Cretaceous the final emplacement of the ophiolites is followed by the unconformable sedimentation of the Barremian-Senonian platform carbonate. From Late Cretaceous to Middle Miocene the Mirdita ophiolitic Nappe was translated westward during the progressive migration of the deformation front toward the Adria Plate. In the Middle to Late Miocene, a thinning of the whole nappe pile was achieved by extensional tectonics, while the compression was still active in the westernmost areas of the Adria Plate. On the whole, the Miocene deformations resulted in the uplift and exposition of the Mirdita ophiolites as today observed.
Mesozoic to Tertiary tectonic history of the Mirdita ophiolites, northern Albanian
MARRONI, MICHELE;PANDOLFI, LUCA;
2005-01-01
Abstract
In this paper, a summary of the tectonic history about the Mirdita ophiolitic Nappe, Northern Albania, is proposed by geological and structural data. The Mirdita ophiolitic Nappe includes a sub-ophiolite mélange, the Rubik Complex, overlain by two ophiolite units, referred as Western and Eastern ones. Its history started in the Early Triassic with a rifting stage followed by Middle to Upper Triassic oceanic opening between Adria and Eurasia continental margins. Subsequently, in the Early Jurassic time, the oceanic basin was affected by convergence with development of a subduction zone. The existence of this subduction zone is provided by the occurrence of the SSZ-related magmatic sequences found in both the Western and Eastern Units of Mirdita ophiolitic Nappe. During the Middle Jurassic the continuous convergence resulted in the obduction of the oceanic lithosphere. by two different stages, respectively the intraoceanic and marginal stages. The intraoceanic stage is characterized by the westward thrusting of young and still hot section of oceanic lithosphere leading to development of a metamorphic sole. In the Late Jurassic, the marginal stage developed by the emplacement of the ophiolitic nappe onto the continental margin. During this second stage, the emplacement of the ophiolites resulted in the development of the Rubik Complex. In the Early Cretaceous the final emplacement of the ophiolites is followed by the unconformable sedimentation of the Barremian-Senonian platform carbonate. From Late Cretaceous to Middle Miocene the Mirdita ophiolitic Nappe was translated westward during the progressive migration of the deformation front toward the Adria Plate. In the Middle to Late Miocene, a thinning of the whole nappe pile was achieved by extensional tectonics, while the compression was still active in the westernmost areas of the Adria Plate. On the whole, the Miocene deformations resulted in the uplift and exposition of the Mirdita ophiolites as today observed.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
